GUAM
Guam Daily Post
Louella Losinio | Post News Staff
Alleged sex abuse victims of Archbishop Anthony Apuron and their supporters urged the passage of the Bill 326-33, authored by Sen. Frank Blas Jr. that would amend the law relative to the statute of limitations in cases involving child sex abuse, during a public hearing yesterday, June 27 at the Guam Legislature.
The bill strikes out a two-year statute of limitation for civil claims. “Child sexual abuse victims often need many years to overcome the pain of their abuse, and time for them to speak out about the abuse that they have suffered. Sadly, many victims of child sexual abuse are unable to proceed with civil claims against the perpetrator because those claims have been barred by the statutes of limitations,” Blas said.
Walter Denton, one of Apuron’s alleged victims, said the measure would give victims of sexual abuse within and outside the Roman Catholic Church the opportunity to be silent no more. “Now it gives them recourse to be heard,” he said.
“As it stands, the current law protects the predator from his past crimes. Once the statute of limitations kick in, it protects them from being sued and prosecuted,” he said, imploring the legislature to act on the measure immediately. “So that people like Apuron and any other person or institution who has aided him or covered up for him will be held accountable, eliminate any time limitations on the right to sue or prosecute no matter how long ago.”
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